When you get home in the evening, it's important to leave the work day completely behind you. You'll be back in the office soon enough!
But maybe you're the type of person who gets so keyed up, there's hardly enough time in the evening to get unwound, before you have to wake up and do it all over again.
You need to invest in your personal relaxation! Here at Just A Sec, we asked our team of volunteer reviewers (all real New York secretaries, like you) to recommend three items that helped them chill out after work. (Sure, booze made the top of the list -- but that would've been too obvious.) Maybe you'll treat yourself to one or more of our secretaries' picks featured below. You deserve it!
Cuddle Up With The Slanket
"Oh my god, as soon as I put this thing on, I fall asleep right on the couch," Heather said. "It's the best thing ever!"
Heather is raving about the Slanket -- a big, cozy fleece blanket with sleeves. How many times have you put your feet up on the ottoman and draped a throw over your legs, only to feel left out in the cold (literally) from the waist up? You don't want to completely cover your arms -- you need them free to peel a clementine, surf the web, or hold the remote.
But the Slanket lets you curl up on the couch, get snuggly warm, and still keep your arms free. You slip your arms into the sleeves from the front and pull the Slanket up over your shoulders. It's stays loose but warm around your neck -- nothing tight or binding. The sleeves are big and loose, too. There are no fasteners, no buttons or snaps. The Slanket hangs comfortably loose over the rest of your body, yet it hangs securely enough on the body to let you get up, walk to the kitchen and back without the Slanket falling off.
And it's generously sized, too -- 60" x 95". So if you get annoyed by blankets and afghans that leave your feet out in the chill, you won't be disappointed by the Slanket. It covers you completely.
The Slanket is incredibly soft, made of 100% polyester microfibers. We put it through the washing machine and dryer twice and it held up beautifully, didn't shrink or develop ratty looking pills. It stayed like new.
The Slanket comes in a wide array of pretty colors and costs $44.95. It's nice for gift-giving too, and comes in a tidy plastic zipper pouch which can be used to store your Slanket. Buy yours at www.theslanket.com.
Soothing Neck Wrap by The Happy Company: The Spa in Your Living Room
It seems simple enough, and you may have seen similar products before -- but have you actually tried one? If not, get it right the first time and get a Soothing Neck Wrap from The Happy Company. They make the best wrap of its kind that we've ever tried.
What is it? Imagine a roughly C-shaped pillow covered in the most heavenly soft fabric you can imagine. It's worn around your neck, like a puffy collar. It's not as lightweight as a bed pillow might be; it's a bit firmer and weightier. And this is a good thing -- because when it rests on your neck and shoulders, it provides just enough pressure to soothe away built-up tensions, like a massage therapist applying gentle pressure.
And the Soothing Neck Wrap is deliciously WARM. The neck wrap pops into the microwave for ONE MINUTE. This is just enough time to warm up the flax seed/plush stuffing. This unique combination of internal ingredients holds and releases heat gently and gradually, melting away pain and tightness.
The Happy Company has also placed a removeable scent sachet inside its Soothing Neck Wrap, containing a subtle fragrant mix of chamomile, lavender and clove -- three scents known for their relaxing qualities. The microwave heat helps activate and release these scents. But if you'd prefer a scent-free experience, just zip open the wrap and remove the sachet.
The outer cover is machine washable and comes in three cozy colors. Best of all, this relaxation super-tool costs less than $20! Get your lovin' care at The Happy Company.
Happy's Head Trip: An Orgasm for Your Scalp
The Happy Company makes us happy again with it's handy Head Trip gadget. And ohhhh, what a gadget it is. The package it comes in says, "It's hard to believe something so simple can feel so good", and wow, nothing could be truer.
Although you can use the Head Trip on yourself, it feels better when you get someone else to use it on you -- so call in those favors from your kids or your partner. It's easy for them to use, and it's nearly impossible for them to get it wrong. Even your four-year-old can use the Head Trip on you in a way that will turn you into a puddle of melted butter.
It's the most unusual -- but most incredible -- head massager we've ever tried. It's got a wooden handle and a bunch of bendable copper "fingers" that you pull apart to form a vague helmet shape. Each finger has a small nob on the end. The Head Trip is lowered onto your head, cradling your cranium, its fingers tickling your scalp.
"I swear, this thing releases some kind of chemical in your body," Angela said after trying the Head Trip. "There's something about the way it touches your head that makes you shiver, in a good way, and then you just go limp. What are those brain chemicals they call the 'feel-good' chemicals? I don't remember, but I'm telling you, it releases those. Lots of them. And it makes you fall asleep."
The effect of the Head Trip is not easy to describe, but Angela did a pretty good job. We encourage you to just take a leap and try it. You won't be disappointed. And for well under $20, it costs just a little for so much pleasure. Happy's Head Trip folds up flat and comes with a handy storage pouch, too. Get one at The Happy Company and be amazed!
